Mail box signal



0. B. SANDIFUR MAIL BOX SIGNAL Sept. 7, 193 7.

Filed June 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l and y A llomeyi Sept. 7, 1937.

nvenlor 011%.,- B Sandgj r Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in signals for mail boxes. I The principal object of the present invention is to provide a signal apparatus for mail boxes which will permit the mailman in rural districts to signal the box owner that he is delivering mail to the box.

7 Another important object of the invention is to provide a mail box signal structure which will be easy to manipulate and which because of its durable construction will not develop frequent defects.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention Will become apparent to the reader of the following specifications- In the drawings- Figure 1 represents a side elevational View of .the box and signal structure.

Figure 2 represents an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view through the box and signal structure.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the signal elements.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the signal retainer.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the link member.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the retainer plate and signal element arm.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 represents a box of conventional construction, the same being provided with the closure 6 hingedly connected to the box.

Numeral I generally refers to fastening means for the closure.

In carrying out the present invention, a signal Q element retainer generally referred to by numeral 8 is provided and is constructed of a rectangularshaped plate 9, the same being slit longitudinally so as to form a tongue which is bent backwardly to provide the spring clip I in complement to the adjacent portion of the plate 9. The free end of this tongue I6 is flared upwardly as at II with respect to the adjacent portion of the plate 9.

Openings I2 are provided in the plate 9 to which securing means I3-I4 is disposed. The

securing element I4 is also disposed through the broken line position shown in Figure 1, the arm will be retained by the spring tongue III in conjunction with the adjacent portion of the plate 9.

As shown in Figure 5, numeral 20 generally refers to the link which is an elongated strip of metal 2! having a portion 22 thereof at one end disposed backwardly in spaced relation to itself and then offset inwardly and secured to the intermediate portion of the straight portion of the strip 2! as at 23. The arm I of the signal element I6 extends through the slot defined by the strip 2I and its backwardly bent portion 22. One end of the stripZI is provided with the opening 24 through which the pivot member 25 on the closure 6 extends.

It can now be seen, that if the signal element or fiag I5 is in the position shown in Figure l with the closure 6 in closed position and the mailman opens the closure 6 to deposit mail, the link 2I will pull the flag to the vertical position shown in Figure 1 in broken lines where it will be retained by the tongue I0. When the mailman closes the closure 6, this will not affect the flag or signal l6 as the loop portion of the link 2| will simply ride over the lower portion of the arm l5. However, if in the first instance the flag is in the vertical position to notify the mailman that there is mail in the box to be collected by him, the mailman will open the box and collect the mail and if he is not depositing any, he will close the box and then swing the flag downwardly to the full line position shown in Figure 1.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and material may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed In a rural mail box structure, a closure, a clip on one side of the box, a swingable signal flag for the box, a link pivotally connected at one end to the closure and provided with a bent backward portion defining an elongated loop at its opposite end, a plate secured to the outside of the box, said flag having an arm pivotally secured to the plate, said clip being located on the upper portion of the plate and adapted to hold the arm in upright position, said loop of the link operating on the arm at a point between its pivot point and the said clip, the loop being located in a vertical plane with the said clip and adapted to abut the pivotal connection of the flag arm with the plate to limit the drop of the flag arm when the same is moved to box empty position.

OLIVER B. SANDIFUR. 

